Swivel plug adapter



Aug.t 24, 1954 G. W. BOOTH SWIVEL PLUG ADAPTER Filed July 13, 1951 INVENT OR @50H05 M500 r/f Patented Aug. 24, v1954 SET-AIES- OF F-"I 1 Claim.

This invention relates to swivel attachment plugs, and more .particularly to a swivel plug adapter providing a swivel connection between .an appliance cord and an electrical. socket. -f

A main object of the inventionis to provide a novel and-.improved swivel plug.. adapter Iwhich issimple in construction, which provides a .com tinuous rotatable connection between the plug of an appliance cord and an electrical socket, and which involves only a few parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved swivel plug adapter which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is sturdy in construction, which is compact in size, and which provides a rotatable mechanical connection between the plug of an appliance cord and an electrical socket, as well as providing electrical connections from the socket to said plug.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an improved swivel plug adapter constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom View of the swivel plug adapter of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure Ll is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line fl-il of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 'll of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a top plan View of the swivel plug adapter of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the improved swivel plug adapter is designated generally at Il, and comprises a female plug receptacle I2 which is integrally molded with a post member I3 extending axially through the female plug member I2 and which contains a conductive core I2 of metal rod material. Surrounding the core Ill is the insulating sheath I5. The post member I3 extends a substantial dista-nce below the bottom of the plug member I2 and has rigidly secured on its portion immediately sub-adjacent the female plug member I2 the metal sleeve Ill. Designated at Il and I8 are respective insulating discs which are rigidly secured to the bottom of the female plug member l 2 between the metal sleeve I and the lower rim of the shell of said plug member brazing, and designated at 2B is a. seco-nd spring contact which is mechanically and'electrically connected to the core Il;

slots 2l and 22 formed in the top wall of the female plug element for the reception of the prongs of a conventional male plug employed with the appliance cord to be connected to the adapter. When the male plug is inserted in the female plug element I2, the prongs of the male plug engage the respective contact springs I9 and 20 and establish electrical contact therewith.

As shown in Figure 3, the lower end of the metal core Ill extends below the bottom rim of the insulating sleeve I `il, and is formed with a ball tip 23. Designated at 2li is a male plug element which is formed with an axial bore 25 containing a bearing element 26. The annular male plug element 24 is rotatably engaged around the post member I3 with the bearing element 26 rotatably engaging the metal sleeve I6, as shown in Figure 3. The male plug element 24 is pro'- vided with respective prongs 2'I and 28 adapted to be inserted in a conventional electrical socket, such as a wall receptacle. Designated at 29 is a first conductor which is connected to the prong 28, as by a conventional binding post 3U, and which extends through the body of the male plug element 24. The top end of the conductor 2B is formed into a substantially circular loop 3| which extends around the upper portion of the sleeve I5 and is in rotative electrical contact therewith. As shown in rFigure 3, the bearing sleeve 26 is sufliciently reduced in height to deline an annular recess between its top rim and the disc element I8 adapted toreceive the contact loop 3I of conductor 29. Designated at 32 is a second conductor which is connected to the prong 2l, as by the conventional binding post 3-3, and which is formed at its upper end with a loop Srl engaged around and in rotative Contact With the neck portion of the exposed lower end of core lll immediately above the ball tip 23. lt will therefore be apparent that the prongs 2l and 28 are electrically connected to the springs 26 and I9 through the respective conductors 32 and 29 and the respective elements I4 and I6, the elements ll and I@ being rotatable relative to the conductors S2 and 29. Thus, the male plug element 26 may swivel freely relative to female plug element I2 While maintaining electrical con- The' respectivespring contactsv Iaand 2li are located in the lfemale plug element' i I 2 'and are disposed `belowv respectiva tact between the contact springs I9 and 20 of the female plug element and the prongs 28 and 21 of the male plug element 24. The conductor 32 provides a mechanical connection between the ball tip 23 and the binding post 33, preventing the axial separation of the male plug element 24 from the female plug element l2.

It will further be apparent that the plug of an appliance may be engaged in the female plug element I2 and the adapter may be engaged in the conventional receptacle. The appliance cord of the device thus electrically connected to the wall socket may rotate freely without becoming twisted and without disturbing the electrical connection to the wall socket.

While a specific embodiment of an improved swivel plug adapter has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A swivel plug adapter comprising a female plug receptacle having a pair of contacts, a post member axially secured to said female receptacle and substantially coextensive therewith, said post member comprising a conductive core and an insulating sheath surrounding said core, a conductive sleeve secured on said sheath, an annular male plug rotatably mounted on said sleeve and slidably received on the core, said male plug having a pair of prongs, said post member extending into said male plug and the end of the core extending beyond the end of the insulating sheath and being formed with aball tip, said core adjacent said tip having a diameter smaller than the tip, respective conductors connecting the contacts of the female receptacle to said core and sleeve, and additional respective conductors connected to the prongs of the male plug and respectively rotatively engaged on and encircling the sleeve and on the core portion of reduced diameter adjacent said ball tip and arranged to secure the male plug against endwise separation from the female plug receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 965,733 Paiste July 26, 1910 1,325,096 Kessler Dec. 16, 1919 1,822,985 Wright Sept. 15, 1931 2,582,800 Sorenson Jan. 15, 1952 

